Rating: Half-Full

 

Cast: Adam Scott, Toni Colletie, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Emjay Anthony, Stefania LaVie Owen and Krista Stadler

 

Director: Michael Dougherty

 

Writers: Todd Casey, Michael Dougherty and Zach Shelds

 

Producers: Thomas Hill, Jon Jashni, Alex Garcia and Michael Dougherty

 

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of horror violence/terror, language and some drug material

 

Fun Fact: The entire opening sequence was filmed in a single day, at the department store in New Zealand.

 

Quote: “Like he had for thousands of years, Krampus came not to reward, but to punish. Not to give, but to take.”- Omi

 

Favorite Part: When the evil toys attacked the adults in the attic.

 

Favorite Character: Howard

 

Synopsis: Max Engel wanted to have a nice Christmas but it wasn’t the way he wanted. His relatives came and the whole family is turned upside down. Upset, Max lost his Christmas spirit, tears up the letter to Santa Claus and threw it out the window. But what he doesn’t know is that he just unleashed the evil version of Santa Claus, Krampus. With everyone trapped in the house with no heat, no power and no cell service, their Christmas is about to get worse. Beth heads out to check on her boyfriend and vanished. The German grandmother, Omi tells them that Krampus is coming out to get them, just like it happened to her family when she was a little girl. One by one the family member gets picked off, the family must try and survive the holidays (literally!)

 

The Review: As people wanted scary Christmas movies, this is one of the few. It is basically like “The Conjuring” celebrating the holidays. A Christmas movie that just came out of the oven with the comedy crispy on the outside but the special effects was a little too chewy on the inside. I just wish they’ll hire Rick Baker to do the make up on Krampus and his minions instead of them having masks. But still, this is one of the great fright holiday films that you’ll watch when you want to spend time away from your family.

 

 

Rating: Full

 

Cast: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Rowin Atkinson and Martine McCutcheon

 

Director: Richard Curtis

 

Writer: Richard Curtis

 

Producers: Duncan Kenworthy, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner

 

Rated: R for sexuality, nudity and language

 

Fun Fact: When ABC Family aired the film, the entire plot of John and Judy (the porn stars) is completely cut. But even with that cut, it still runs 3 hours with commercials.

 

Quote: “Hiya kids. Here is an important message from your Uncle Bill. Don’t buy drugs. Become a pop star, and they give you them for free.”- Billy Mack

 

Favorite Part: When Sam rushes through the airport to reach the girl of his dreams before the plane takes off for New York.

 

Favorite Character: Billy Mack

 

Synopsis: In the United Kingdom, there are 10 stories about love that is linked to one another (except for Billy Mack’s story). There is the Prime Minister who falls for his secretary, an aging Rockstar who recorded “Christmas is all around”, a widower with his step son who is looking for love, a young man who is desired to visit America just to get some babes, a writer who falls for the foreign woman, an acting couple who is filming an erotic film, and more.

 

The Review: Families may enjoy watching Christmas movies, but this is one of the few that only parents can watch. A holiday romantic comedy with such coordinates that you gotta be smart or way into the film to piece it all together. More romantic than comedy is what this is. Billy Mack’s version of “Love is all Around” is very well done! Be prepared to be with someone special after watching this film.

 

 

 

Rating: Full

 

Cast: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Brouobert, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen

 

Director: Sarah Smith

 

Writers: Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith

 

Producers: Peter Lord, David Sproxton Carla Shelly and Steve Pegram

 

Rated: PG for some mild rude humor

 

Fun Fact: When Steve is sneaking into Gwen’s house, he almost stepped on a stuffed Shaun the Sheep, a main Aardman’s character.

 

Quote: “Operation Santa Claus is coming to town!”- Steve

 

Favorite Part: When the Waker alarm goes off (a Waker is when a child wakes up during the elves visit).

 

Favorite Character: Steve

 

Synopsis: Kids has been asking how Santa delivers presents all around the world all in one night, well the answer is with the high tech, state of the art ship and millions of elves. Arthur was Santa’s klutzy son who spends time reading letters while his older brother, Steve, is about to become the next Santa. Another Christmas was a success but only one child is forgotten. This causes Arthur to worry, he asks Steve and their father to deliver the last gift before the child wakes up but they said it was impossible. But Arthur’s grandfather disagrees with them and decides to help deliver the last gift using an old-fashioned sleigh, eight reindeer and a stowaway elf who is crazy about wrapping gifts. Together, they can deliver the last gift.

 

The Review: Outstanding British Christmas movie who can give the children hopes. Such quite a cast! Clever technology for the citizens at the north pole (including the iPhone for elves called HOHO). Be prepare for a sleigh ride! This is Aardman’s first fully length CGI animated film.

 

 

Rating: Full

 

Cast: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temurera Morrision, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk

 

Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker

 

Writer: Jered Bush

 

Producer: Osnat Shurer

 

Rated: PG for peril, some scary images, and brief thematic elements

 

Fun Fact: Maui’s tattoos are not CGI.

 

Quote: “If you wear a dress and have an animal sidekick, you’re a princess.”- Maui

 

Synopsis: Moana is a teenager who lives on the island in the Pacific Ocean. She wants to go beyond the reef but her father forbidden her to leave the island. She discovers a green stone which is the heart that Maui, a demi-god, removed a thousand years ago, causing the islands to die. But when her dying grandmother encourages her to do so, she and her pet chicken sails beyond the reef. She finds Maui and encourages him to return the stone to the island. Now Moana and Maui must sail across the ocean to return the green stone in the right place.

 

 

Review: Another great Disney princess movie, only this time, without a lover of a princess. With great songs and quite characters, and an awesome story, this could be the next frozen. The Rock makes a funny Maui. This is basically like reading a fairy tale from the pacific islands. The true self message was so true. Moana is a tropical paradise!